Electrically and battery powered vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

A dual powered vacuum cleaner apparatus is presented. The apparatus includes a housing including an electrical powered means for providing suction for cleaning, a battery for supplying a first electrical power to the suction means and a cord compartment. An electrical cord containable within the cord compartment for supplying a second electrical power to the suction means is included. And, means for moving the apparatus from one location to another is supplied. The apparatus may be operated by the first electrical power when the second electrical power is unavailable and may be operated by the second electrical power when the first electrical power is unavailable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Utility patent application claims priority benefit of the U.S. provisional application for patent Ser. No. 60976471 filed on Oct. 1st, 2007 under 35 U.S.C. 119(e). The contents of this related provisional application are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX

Not applicable.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to household appliances. More particularly, the invention relates to a vacuum cleaner that may be operated using electricity or batteries.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vacuuming is often accompanied by many frustrations. For example, without limitation, electrical cords on current vacuum cleaners do not easily reach from room to room, and when vacuuming many rooms at once, a user typically must unplug the vacuum cleaner when finished in one room and find a new outlet in the new room in which to plug the vacuum cleaner. Furthermore, current vacuum cleaners are not operational during a power outage because they require electricity.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for improved techniques for providing a vacuum cleaner that makes vacuuming easier by generally eliminating the need to plug the vacuum cleaner into an electrical outlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary vacuum cleaner that is both electrically powered and battery operated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the forgoing and other objects and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, an electrically and battery powered vacuum cleaner is presented.

In one embodiment, a dual powered vacuum cleaner apparatus is presented. The apparatus includes a housing including an electrical powered means for providing suction for cleaning, a battery for supplying a first electrical power to the suction means and a cord compartment. An electrical cord containable within the cord compartment for supplying a second electrical power to the suction means is included. And, means for moving the apparatus from one location to another is supplied. The apparatus may be operated by the first electrical power when the second electrical power is unavailable and may be operated by the second electrical power when the first electrical power is unavailable. Another embodiment further includes a suction hose attachment for cleaning, the attachment used in conjunction with the suction means. In other embodiments the electrical cord is retractable into the cord compartment, the housing is lightweight and portable and the housing is configured as a lightweight, full size, upright vacuum cleaner. In still other embodiments the housing is configured to use a filter bag in conjunction with the suction means, the housing is configured to use bagless technology in conjunction with the suction means and the housing is configured to use a filter bag and bagless technology in conjunction with the suction means. In yet other embodiments the battery is of a rechargeable type, means for recharging the battery is included and a second battery for supplying the first electrical power when the battery is recharging is included. In a further embodiment, the battery is of a non-rechargeable type.

In another embodiment, a dual powered vacuum cleaner apparatus is presented. The apparatus includes means for housing components of the apparatus, means for providing suction for cleaning, means for supplying a first electrical power to the suction means, means for supplying a second electrical power to the suction means, and means for moving the apparatus from one location to another where the apparatus may be operated by the first electrical power when the second electrical power is unavailable and may be operated by the second electrical power when the first electrical power is unavailable. Other embodiments further include means for providing a suction attachment and means for recharging the first electrical power means.

Other features, advantages, and object of the present invention will become more apparent and be more readily understood from the following detailed description, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the Figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention, recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, there are numerous modifications and variations of the invention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Embodiments of the present invention provide means to make vacuuming easier and more enjoyable. The preferred embodiment is a vacuum cleaner that is battery operated and electrically powered.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary vacuum cleaner 100 that is both electrically powered and battery operated, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, vacuum cleaner 100 is a lightweight, full size, upright vacuum cleaner. However, alternate embodiments may be different types of vacuum cleaners such as, but not limited to, canister vacuum cleaners, handheld vacuum cleaners, shop vacuums, etc. Vacuum cleaner 100 comprises an electrical cord in a cord compartment 105 and a battery 110. In alternate embodiments electrical cords and batteries may be placed in different locations; for example, without limitation, the electrical cord may not be stored in a compartment in some embodiments. In embodiments where the electrical cord is stored in a compartment, the electrical cord may be retractable. In the present embodiment, battery 110 is rechargeable; however, alternate embodiments may use non-rechargeable batteries. Some embodiments may be available with multiple batteries so when one battery dies a user can insert another battery into the vacuum cleaner while the dead battery is charging. Some embodiments may also include a docking station as an optional accessory that recharges the battery. In some embodiments with a docking station the entire vacuum cleaner may dock into the docking station, and in other embodiments, only the battery or batteries dock in the docking station.

Vacuum cleaner 100 includes various onboard attachments such as, but not limited to, a suction hose 115 and uses a filter bag; however, alternate embodiments may be bagless. In some embodiments the vacuum cleaner may comprise two separate dirt-trapping areas, one using a filter bag and the other using bagless technology. Embodiments of the present invention can be manufactured in assorted colors, shapes and sizes for customer appeal. Those skilled in the art, in light of the present teachings, will recognize that various features and attachments may be available in various alternate embodiments. For example, without limitation, if the vacuum cleaner is bagless, the handle may also function as a screw out duster, or in some embodiments the vacuum cleaner may comprise two belts, creating a stronger pull equating to more suction.

In typical use of vacuum cleaner 100, a user can vacuum from room to room without searching for wall sockets in order to plug in the electrical cord since vacuum cleaner 100 is able to run on battery power. Furthermore, vacuum cleaner 100 may be used when the electricity is out. In the event that battery 110 loses a charge, the user can simply plug the electrical cord into a wall socket and use vacuum cleaner 100 like a conventional electrically powered vacuum cleaner.

Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention, other equivalent or alternative methods of providing a vacuum cleaner that may be powered without an electrical cord according to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention has been described above by way of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. For example, the particular implementation of the capacity vacuum cleaner may vary depending upon the particular type of vacuum cleaner used. The vacuum cleaners described in the foregoing were directed to household implementations; however, similar techniques are to apply battery technology to commercial vacuum cleaners. Commercial capacity implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

1. A dual powered vacuum cleaner apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a housing comprising: an electrical powered means for providing suction for cleaning; a battery for supplying a first electrical power to said suction means; and a cord compartment; an electrical cord containable within said cord compartment for supplying a second electrical power to said suction means; and means for moving the apparatus from one location to another where the apparatus may be operated by said first electrical power when said second electrical power is unavailable and may be operated by said second electrical power when said first electrical power is unavailable.
 2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a suction hose attachment for cleaning, said attachment used in conjunction with said suction means.
 3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein when said electrical cord is retractable into said cord compartment.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is lightweight and portable.
 5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is configured as a lightweight, full size, upright vacuum cleaner.
 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is configured to use a filter bag in conjunction with said suction means.
 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is configured to use bagless technology in conjunction with said suction means.
 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is configured to use a filter bag and bagless technology in conjunction with said suction means.
 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery is of a rechargeable type.
 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for recharging said battery.
 11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising a second battery for supplying said first electrical power when said battery is recharging.
 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery is of a non-rechargeable type.
 13. A dual powered vacuum cleaner apparatus, the apparatus comprising: means for housing components of the apparatus; means for providing suction for cleaning; means for supplying a first electrical power to said suction means; means for supplying a second electrical power to said suction means; and means for moving the apparatus from one location to another where the apparatus may be operated by said first electrical power when said second electrical power is unavailable and may be operated by said second electrical power when said first electrical power is unavailable.
 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, further comprising means for providing a suction attachment.
 15. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, further comprising means for recharging said first electrical power means. 